Question

The correct sequence of steps involved in the mechanism of Cannizzaro's reaction is

• A. nucleophilic attack, transfer of $ {{\text{H}}^{\text{-}}} $ and transfer of $ {{\text{H}}^{+}} $
• B. transfer of $ {{\text{H}}^{-}} $ , transfer of $ {{\text{H}}^{+}} $ and nucleophilic attack
• C. transfer of $ {{\text{H}}^{+}} $ , nucleophilic attack and transfer of $ {{\text{H}}^{-}} $
• D. electrophilic attack by $ \text{O}{{\text{H}}^{-}} $ , transfer of $ {{\text{H}}^{-}} $ and

Answer 1

Answer: (A)

The Cannizzaro reaction is as $ \text{HCHO + HCHO}\xrightarrow{\text{KOH(con}\text{.)}}\underset{\text{methyl alcohol}}{\mathop{\text{C}{{\text{H}}_{\text{3}}}\text{OH}}}\,\text{+}\underset{\text{acetic acid}}{\mathop{\text{HCOO}{{\text{k}}^{\text{+}}}}}\, $ The mechanism of Cannizzaro reaction is as Step I Attack of nucleophile $ \text{O}{{\text{H}}^{-}} $ to the carbonyl carbon
Step II The transfer of hydride ion from anion (I) to second molecule of aldehyde and finally rapid transfer of proton takes place.